Digital wireless telephone system for downloading software to a digital telephone using wireless data link protocol

ABSTRACT

A digital wireless telephone downloads software related to digital telephone services using a client browser. The digital telephone initiates a data call to an interworking unit via a digital wireless telephone network, using a prescribed wireless data protocol such as IS-95A. The interworking unit recovers the payload of the wireless data packets to establish a two-way data link with the digital telephone. The interworking unit sends data messages to a destination server across a second two-way data link in a packet switched network to establish a two way session between the digital telephone and the destination server. The user of the digital telephone can thus communicate with the server via a two-way application-layer session using hypertext-based messaging. The digital telephone can thus navigate between different servers on the packet switched network for activation of different digital telephone services, and for downloading new software or updating existing software related to the digital telephone services.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless digital communicationssystems, and in particular to systems and methods for downloadingsoftware to portable wireless digital telephones.

BACKGROUND ART

Wireless communication systems are known to comprise wirelesscommunication units, such as in-car mobile and/or hand-held portableradios, that communicate with each other and a fixed infrastructureusing wireless communication resources. Many of the user featuresprovided by such wireless communication units are often based onsoftware programs stored and executed within the wireless communicationunits. That is, algorithms electronically stored in memories areexecuted by processing devices, such as microprocessors, to realizecertain features.

As existing features are improved and new features are developed forwireless communication units, new versions of software become availablewith increasing frequency. Users of wireless communication unitstypically desire to receive the newest versions of updated software asquickly and as efficiently as possible in order to take advantage of theimprovements.

Prior art approaches for delivering updated software to wirelesscommunication units are not always convenient and/or efficient. Onemethod requires a user to bring the wireless communication unit to acentral location, such as a service shop operated by a systemadministrator or service provider. The unit is then either provided withreplacement parts containing the updated software (i.e., replacementmemory devices) or physically connected to a device that transfers theupdated software to the unit. Regardless of how the updated software isactually transferred, this method is both time-consuming andinconvenient to users since they are typically required to bring theirunit in for service during normal work hours.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,825 to Averbuch et al. discloses an arrangement fordownloading software from a server to a wireless terminal via aland-based public communication network using a battery charger/softwaredownloader. According to Averbuch et al., downloading software via aland-based public communication network and a battery charger/softwaredownloader has the advantage of minimizing inconvenience to the wirelesstelephone user. Averbuch et al. also asserts that downloading softwarevia the land-based public communications network is advantageous overreceiving updated software wirelessly as a special type of data message.According to Averbuch et al., software versions often comprise manymegabytes of data, and thus require extensive use of wirelesscommunication resources to send the updated software to a large numberof units.

Digital cellular systems have evolved as a more efficient implementationof wireless communication systems over analog cellular systems. Digitalcellular systems typically use time-division multiplexed access (TDMA)or code-division multiple access (CDMA) techniques. Digital cellularcommunication systems overcome the disadvantages in analog cellularsystems, including noise susceptibility and limitations in spectrumefficiency. CDMA systems have been standardized according toTIA/EIA/IS-95A (“MOBILE STATION-BASE STATION COMPATIBILITY STANDARD FORDUAL MODE WIDEBAND SPREAD SPECTRUM CELLULAR SYSTEM”—1995), by theTelecommunications Industry Association (“TIA”), the disclosure of whichis incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

With CDMA, each transmitted signal comprises a different pseudorandombinary sequence, also referred to as a pseudonoise (PN) sequence, thatmodulates a carrier signal, spreading the spectrum of the waveform.Thus, since each CDMA subscriber unit is assigned a unique PN code, aplurality of subscriber stations can send and receive CDMA signalssharing the same frequency spectrum. If these CDMA signals were viewedin either the frequency or time domain, the multiple access signalswould appear to be superimposed on top of each other. The CDMA signalsare separated in the receivers of the base stations or the subscriberstations by using a correlator which accepts only signal energy from theselected binary PN sequence and despreads its spectrum. The CDMA signalsfrom other sources, whose codes do not match the selected binary PNsequence, are not despread in bandwidth and as a result, contribute onlyto the background noise and represent a self-interference generated bythe system. CDMA interference therefore can be controlled, with the goalof increasing system capacity, on the basis of the reduction insignal-to-noise ratio caused by other users within the cellular CDMAsystem. Thus, a goal in any CDMA system is to limit the power output oftransmitters in order to minimize the cumulative system noise caused bythe other users in the CDMA system.

The use of CDMA has also been proposed for Personal CommunicationServices (PCS). A proposed standard for a CDMA PCS system has beensubmitted by the Joint Technical Committee of the TIA, entitled PN-3384,“PERSONAL STATION-BASE STATION COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 1.8 TO 2.0GHz CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (CDMA) PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONSSYSTEMS”, Nov. 3, 1994, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference. The PCS proposed standard PN-3384 specifies enhancedservices including transmission rates up to 14.4 kbps for enhancedspeech quality, full data services at rates up to about 13 kbps, andsimultaneous transmission of voice and data. The CDMA PCS system isadapted to operate in any of the licensed PCS frequency allocations fromthe FCC, currently assigned at 1930-1990 MHz band for the forward CDMAchannel (base station to subscriber), and 1850-1910 MHz for the reverseCDMA channel (subscriber to base station).

Data service capabilities for an IS-95A system are specified inTIA/EIA/IS-99 (“DATA SERVICES OPTION STANDARD FOR WIDEBAND SPREADSPECTRU DIGITAL CELLULAR SYSTEMS”—1995), and TIA/EIA/IS-707 (“DATASERVICE OPTIONS FOR WIDEBAND SPREAD SPECTRUM SYSTEMS”—1997),incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. These standardsspecify a circuit switched wireless data protocol used by CDMA cellularmobile stations and base stations to provide modem emulation over theCDMA digital cellular telephone. These standards also define proceduresfor the interface between the base station and mobile switching center(BS/MSC), and an Interworking Function (IWF) that converts the data fromthe wireless data protocol to a format compatible for the publicswitched telephone network (PSTN).

Hence, digital telephones can serve as wireless modems that send andreceive wireless data packets for portable laptop PCs, where thewireless data packets are sent and received by the digital telephonesaccording to a wireless data protocol such as IS-99 or IS-707. In thiscase, data frames from the laptop PC are output as wireless data packetsby the digital wireless telephone to the wireless digital communicationssystem, and wireless data packets received by the digital wirelesstelephone from the wireless digital communications system are output bythe digital telephone to the laptop PC.

Hence, a customer can connect his or her portable laptop PC to thedigital CDMA telephone using an RS-232 cable, and configure the dial-upsoftware resident in the laptop PC to set up the laptop PC to send andreceive faxes via the digital wireless telephone in the form of wirelessdata packets. In addition, a user of a laptop PC may use the digitalCDMA phone as a wireless modem to dial into an Internet Service Provider(ISP), or a corporate local area network (LAN) to access Internet orintranet services. The digital cellular or PCS system, upon receivingthe wireless data call, connects the call to an Interworking Function(IWF) unit, which performs the necessary tasks to process data and faxtransmissions into circuit-switched data and digital fax connections viathe public switched telephone network. Hence, a user can browse theInternet or send a fax with the laptop PC using the wireless dataconnection.

The above-described wireless data protocols, however, contemplate use ofthe digital telephone as a wireless modem for a mobile computer such asa laptop PC, and do not address the problem of downloading upgradedsoftware directly into the digital telephone. In addition, the standardsspecify only the protocol of the packet data transmitted via the airinterface. Hence, transmission and reception of wireless data istypically performed by executing proprietary call processing softwareembedded in the digital telephone or the IWF unit. The use ofproprietary call processing software limits the flexibility of potentialapplication developers in developing improved software for use by thewireless telephones. Moreover, the use of proprietary call processingsoftware in the digital telephone and the IWF unit requires the digitalwireless telephone service providers to rely on the vendors of theproprietary software to maintain the digital wireless telephoneinfrastructure. For example, a proposed standard TIA/EIA/IS-683specifies an over-the-air voice service activation procedure by placinga voice call on a CDMA and/or analog voice channel. The implementationof new digital wireless telephone services such as over-the-airactivation as specified in IS-683 requires modification of theproprietary software in the infrastructure components, including thedigital telephones, the mobile switching center, and the IWF, resultingin increased costs and delays in implementing new digital wirelesstelephone services.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for an arrangement in a digital wireless communicationssystem for downloading updated software to a digital wireless telephonein a manner that does not unduly burden wireless communications systemresources.

There is also a need for an arrangement in a digital wirelesscommunications system for implementing new digital wireless telephoneservices with minimal modification to existing digital wirelesstelephone system infrastructure components, including digitaltelephones.

There is also a need for an arrangement in a digital wirelesscommunications system enabling a user to select and control the wirelessupgrading of digital telephone software in the user's digital telephone.

There is also a need for an arrangement enabling a user to establish atwo-way application-layer session between the user's digital telephoneand a server via a digital wireless transceiver, where the server candownload control software associated with digital telephone services tothe digital telephone during the two-way application layer session. Suchdigital telephone services may encompass over-the-air activation of newservices, or the enhancement of existing services.

There is also a need for a digital wireless telephone configured forrecovering an executable program selected by the user and associatedwith digital telephone services from a stream of wireless data packetsreceived from a digital wireless telephone network, and storing theexecutable program in a nonvolatile memory for execution by the digitalwireless telephone.

These and other needs are attained by the present invention, where adigital wireless telephone is configured for sending selection inputssupplied by a user to a server via a digital wireless communicationssystem, and receiving downloaded software from the server based on theselection inputs. The digital telephone initiates a data call to aninterworking unit via a wireless telephone network, using a prescribedwireless data protocol, to establish a two-way data link with theinterworking unit that is independent of the prescribed wireless dataprotocol. The interworking unit is configured for generating datamessages to a destination server via a packet switched network, forexample a proxy gateway, via a second two-way data link to establish atwo-way session between the digital telephone and the destinationserver. The user of the digital telephone can then communicate with theserver via the two-way session, for example by sending a request foractivation of a prescribed service. The server responds to the requestby sending (i.e., downloading) control software associated with digitaltelephone services to the digital telephone during the two-way session.The digital telephone then recovers the control software from thewireless data packets sent via the wireless telephone network and storesthe recovered control software in nonvolatile memory.

A particularly beneficial aspect of the present invention is that thedigital wireless telephone is configured for executing multiple softwareresources that interact by exchanging messages across ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (API). One example of such a configuration is theOpen Systems Interconnect (OSI) model, where different protocol layersin a prescribed hierarchy interact by exchanging data with adjacentlayers. Consequently, each software resource of a digital telephone mayinteract with its own corresponding infrastructure component via thedigital wireless telephone network, enabling the establishment of avirtual two-way communication, independent of the wireless dataprotocol, between the telephone user interface and a server configuredfor downloading control software to the digital telephone.

One example of the telephone user interface may be a client browserexecutable by the digital wireless telephone, enabling a user tonavigate a private network in order to select the downloading ofdifferent control software elements for respective services of thedigital wireless telephone network. Use of the client browser in thedigital wireless telephone is particularly effective for over-the-airservice activation, where the user selects activation of new digitalwireless services. During the activation procedure, the user may use theclient browser to interact first with a proxy gateway controllingnetwork access based on prescribed security procedures, followed byinteraction with an activation server for downloading of controlsoftware associated with activation of new digital wireless services.The user may then use the client browser to interact with an updateserver configured for downloading updated software for digital telephonecomponents, such as operating system, vacatur software, call processingsoftware, transceiver control software, etc., based on revisioninformation received from the digital telephone.

Hence, a digital telephone user may selectively access servers of aprivate or public packet switched network via the digital wirelesstelephone network to download to the digital telephone control softwareassociated with digital telephone services. Hence, the user maycustomize his or her digital telephone programming based on the desiredservices. Moreover, the invention enables use of an open platform fordigital wireless communications, enabling application developers todevelop new software applications for new digital telephone services.Digital telephone users can then download the new software applicationsas they are made available on a server.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having thesame reference numeral designations represent like/elements throughoutand wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital wireless communications systemconfigured for programming a digital wireless telephone according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the exchange of messages between thedigital wireless telephone and the system of FIG. 1 on multiple protocollayers.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a digital wireless telephone according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are flow diagrams summarizing a method forprogramming a digital wireless telephone according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for wireless activationof digital telephone service for a digital telephone. The systemincludes a digital wireless telephone network 10 that includes a mobileswitching center (MSC) 12, and base station controllers (BSC) 14 havinga digital wireless transceiver 14 a for transmitting data packets todigital telephones 16. The digital wireless telephone network 10 may beimplemented either as a TDMA (time-division multiple access) system or aCDMA (code division multiple access) system. TDMA systems may beimplemented using either the Pan-European digital mobile radio systemGSM, DSC1800, PCN (personal communication network), or the NorthAmerican TDMA digital cellular system known as IS-54. Similarly, theCDMA system may be implemented using the known IS-95 standard.

As recognized in the art, both TDMA and CDMA wireless communicationsystems are designed to overcome the severe effects encountered duringtransmission across the air interface that cause bit errors in digitaldata. For example, a digitized voice is processed with a plurality oferror correction schemes to ensure that the voice quality is notdegraded during propagation across the air interface due to factors suchas multi-path interference, fading, etc.

According to the disclosed embodiment, the digital wireless transceiver14 transmits and receives data streams carrying data packets between thedigital wireless telephones according to a prescribed wireless dataprotocol, such as the above-incorporated CDMA standards I-95A that useI-99 and IS-707. Although these standards can be used to configure thedigital telephones 16 as wireless digital modems that send and receivedata frames according to CDMA transmission techniques, the disclosedembodiment also uses the wireless data protocol to send and receive dataframes for programming the digital telephones 16.

In particular, the digital wireless telephones 16 are configured forselectively accessing one or a plurality of servers for activation ofdigital telephone services, and for downloading of control softwareassociated with the digital telephone services to the digital telephone16. As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes an Interworking FunctionUnit (IWF) 18, configured for establishing a 2-way communication linkwith the digital telephone according to a prescribed network layerprotocol, such as TCP/IP protocol. Specifically, the IWF 18 provides aninterworking function, where data packets transmitted by a digitaltelephone 16 and received by the BSC 14 are routed to the IWF 18 via theMSC 12 based on dialed digits supplied from the digital telephone 16.TheIWF 18 is configured for partially decoding the data packets from thewireless data protocol to establish a 2-way communication link with thedigital telephone 16 according to a prescribed network layer protocol,described in further detail below with respect to FIG. 2. Specifically,the IWF 18 provides the data functions needed for terminal equipmentconnected to the wireless CDMA network to interwork with terminalequipment connected to the public switched telephone network 48. Inaddition, the IWF 18 is configured to assign a temporary IP address tothe digital telephone 16,and supply an IP address to the digitaltelephone 16 for a proxy gateway server 20, enabling the digitaltelephone 16 to connect to the proxy gateway server 20 according toTCP/IP protocol. Hence, the IWF 18 recovers the TCP/IP messages from theCDMA data packets transported according to radio link protocol (RLP),and transmits the TCP/IP messages to the data proxy gateway 20 accordingto a prescribed physical layer protocol, for example Ethernet or IEEE802.3.

The proxy gateway 20 performs protocol translation of the TCP/IPmessages from the IWF 18 to recover hypertext transport protocol (HTTP)or hypertext markup language (HTML) protocol messages, generated by thedigital telephone 16. The proxy gateway server 20 also performshypertext-based security, for example using public-key encryptionalgorithms such as Diffe-Hellman. encryption, to provide a securetwo-way client-server application layer session between the proxygateway server 20 and the digital telephone 16.

In particular, the digital telephone 16 includes a “thin” client browserconfigured for sending messages to the proxy gateway server 20 inresponse to user inputs and based on display menu items supplied by theproxy gateway server 20. The thin client browser having a size of about122 to 200 kilobytes, thus enables the digital telephone 16 to interactwith the proxy gateway server 20 using hypertext-based messaging.Moreover, the proxy gateway server 20 selectively controls access by thedigital telephone 16 to additional servers via a packet switched network22 and based on validation of security information supplied by thedigital telephone. Hence, the digital telephone 16 may selectivelyaccess different servers configured for downloading different controlsoftware to the digital telephone based on respective digital telephoneservices.

As shown in FIG. 1, the proxy gateway server 20 is connected to a TCP/IPbased packet switched network 22, such as a private intranet or theInternet. The packet switched network 22 enables the proxy gateway 20 toselectively connect the digital telephone 16 to at least one of aplurality of different servers. Each server in the packet switchednetwork is configured for downloading a particular software foractivation or upgrading of a particular digital telephone service. Forexample, the packet switched network 22 includes a provisioning server24,a revision control server 26,and a user database 28 configured forstoring mobile user information, described below.

The packet switched network 22 may also be in communication with acustomer service center 32 of the digital wireless telephone network 10.The customer service center 32, also referred to as a business network,is configured for activating new service for new subscribers, and isconfigured for communications with other systems supporting networkoperations and billing functions for the network 10.

For example, the system includes a billing system 38 for billingsubscribers based on airtime usage, and a provisioning system 40configured for provisioning network resources based on the activationand deactivation of subscribers' services. The provisioning system 40activates new subscribers in response to receiving provisioning requestsfrom the business network 32 via an information service (IS) network 34.The IS network 36 is an internal data network used by customer servicerepresentatives to process conventional provisioning requests.

For example, when a customer first obtains service, the customer callsthe business office 32 of the cellular or PCS carrier. During thisinitial voice call, a customer service representative may request themobile identification number (MIN) assigned to the digital telephone,and may collect user identity and profile information, includinginformation necessary to establish credit worthiness. The representativewill then provide the user with an activation code. The representativealso sends a provisioning request to the system 36, to requestactivation of the mobile identification number. The provisioning system40 processes the provisioning request, and forwards the processedprovisioning request via a data network 42, that converts TCP/IPmessages to Switch System 7 (SS7) messages, to an operation maintenanceprovisioning (OMP) system 44. The operations maintenance provisioningsystem 44 initializes a home location register (HLR) for identifying thenewly-registered subscriber having a valid, active account. Asrecognized in the art, the OMP system 44 may also maintain visitorlocation registers (VLRs), for digital telephones that are roamingwithin the wireless telephone network 10. In addition, the OMP/HLR 44are in communication with the MSC 12 via conventional telephony-basedcommunications links, such as T1 lines 46. As recognized in the art, theMSC 12 also connects to the public switch telephone network (PSTN) 48via conventional T1 lines 46.

As described below, the embodiment of FIG. 1 enables the user of thedigital telephone 16 to perform over the air handset activation inaccordance with IS-683. The interim standard IS-683 defined an over theair service provisioning procedure for voice service for a CDMA and/orvoice channel. Conventional implementations of this specification wouldrequire a software change to the wireless communications infrastructure,including the digital telephones 16 and the mobile switching center 12.The disclosed embodiment, however, enables wireless activation andprogramming of the digital telephone 16 using the wireless dataprotocols associated with standard IS-95A, and use of a thin client inthe digital telephone 16 to navigate between the servers 20, 24, and/or26 for downloading software for digital telephone operations. Asdescribed below, the downloaded software may be for activation of newservice, upgrading existing service, or upgrading existing softwarestored in the digital telephone 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the business network 32 includes a terminal 30having a web browser for navigating the packet switched network 22.Hence, the terminal 30 enables a customer service representative tointerface between existing provisioning systems 34 of the wirelesstelephone network 10, and servers 24 and 26 providing direct programmingof the digital telephone 16, via the packet switched network 22. Theterminal 30 can thus be used to retrieve usage information from therespective servers 20, 24, 26 related to hosts (i.e., digital telephones16) having accessed the servers to download software or attempt serviceactivation.

Alternately, the terminal 30 may be used as a network interface for theservers 20, 24, and 26, enabling the servers 20, 24, and 26 to interactwith the business network 32 as needed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the exchange of messages between thedigital wireless telephone 16 and the proxy gateway server 20 via thewireless telephone network 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital telephone 16 communicateswith the different infrastructure components, via e.g. , the BSC 14, theMSC 12, the IWF 18, and the proxy gateway server 20, using multiplelayers of protocols. Computer networks also universally employ multiplelayers of protocols. A low-level physical layer protocol 50 assures thetransmission and reception of a data stream between two devices via amedium, such as the air interface 52, or a wire or fiber-based medium54. A data link and network layer 56 overlying the physical layer 50governs transmission of data through the network to ensure end to endreliable data delivery. The relationship between the physical layer 50and the data link and network layer 56 conforms with the Open SystemsInterconnection (OSI) reference model established by the InternationalStandards Organization (ISO).

The OSI reference model is not itself a network architecture. Rather itspecifies a hierarchy of protocol layers and defines the function ofeach layer in the network. Each layer in one computer of the networkcarries on a conversation with the corresponding layer in anothercomputer with which communication is taking place, in accordance with aprotocol defining the rules of this communication. In reality,information is transferred down from layer to layer in one computer,then through the channel medium 52 or 54 and back up the successivelayers of the other computer. However, for purposes of design of thevarious layers and understanding their functions, it is easier toconsider each of the layers as communicating with its counterpart at thesame level, in a “horizontal” direction.

The lowest layer defined by the OSI model is called the physical layer50, and is concerned with transmitting raw data bits over thecommunication channel. Design of the physical layer 50 involves issuesof electrical, mechanical or optical engineering, depending on themedium used for the communication channel. The layer next to thephysical layer is called the data link layer. The main task of the datalink layer is to transform the physical layer 50, which interfacesdirectly with the channel medium 52 or 54, into a communication linkthat appears error-free to the next layer above, known as the networklayer. The data link layer and the network layer are illustrated in FIG.2 as a single layer 56 for convenience. The data link layer performssuch functions as structuring data into packets or frames, and attachingcontrol information to the packets or frames, such as checksums forerror detection, and packet numbers.

The next higher layer, referred to in FIG. 2 as the upper protocollayers 58, include the transport layer, the session layer, and thepresentation layer, described below. These layers 58 supportcommunications for the application layer 60, which includes operatingsystem functions for supporting function calls by high-level programssuch as client browsers.

The layers of FIG. 2 are used to enable communications between two nodesaccording to Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).Whereas digital telephones to date have served as modems for computersthat connected to networks, the present invention uses the digitaltelephone to directly interact, as a host, to servers on a packetswitched network. Hence, the digital telephone 16 is configured tosupport network transport protocols, such as TCP/IP. Hence, a review ofTCP/IP and its routing protocols is necessary to gain an understandingof how the digital telephone 16 interacts with the servers on the packetswitched network 22.

TCP/IP was developed by the Department of Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency (ARPA), and was put into government networks such asArpanet. TCP/IP enables communication between computers in a local areanetwork, referred to as an intranet, and between computers in theInternet.

Internet is a collection of networks, including Arpanet, NSFnet,regional networks such as NYsernet, local networks at a number ofuniversity and research institutions, and a number of military networks.The protocols generally referred to as TCP/IP were originally developedfor use only through Arpanet and have subsequently become widely used inthe industry. The protocols provide a set of services that permit usersto communicate with each other across the entire Internet. The specificservices that these protocols provide are not important to the presentinvention, but include file transfer, remote log-in, remote execution,remote printing, computer mail, and access to network file systems.

The basic function of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is to makesure that commands and messages from an application protocol, such ascomputer mail, are sent to their desired destinations. TCP keeps trackof what is sent, and retransmits anything that does not get to itsdestination correctly. If any message is too long to be sent as one“datagram,” TCP will split it into multiple datagrams and makes surethat they all arrive correctly and are reassembled for the applicationprogram at the receiving end. Since these functions are needed for manyapplications, they are collected into a separate protocol (TCP) ratherthan being part of each application. TCP is implemented in the transportlayer of the OSI reference model.

The Internet Protocol (IP) is implemented in the network layer of theOSI reference model, and provides a basic service to TCP: deliveringdatagrams to their destinations. TCP simply hands IP a datagram with anintended destination; IP is unaware of any relationship betweensuccessive datagrams, and merely handles routing of each datagram to itsdestination. If the destination is a station connected to a differentLAN, the IP makes use of routers to forward the message.

TCP/IP is based on a 5-layer variation of the 7-layer OSI referencemodel as follows:

Layer 5—The Application Layer. Applications such as FTP, telnet, SMTP,and NFS relate to this layer.

Layer 4—The Transport Layer. In this layer, TCP and UDP add transportdata to the packet and pass it to layer 3.

Layer 3—The Internet Layer. When an action is initiated on a local host(or initiating host) that is to be performed or responded to on a remotehost (or receiving host), this layer takes the package from layer 4 andadds IP information before passing it to layer 2.

Layer 2—The Network Interface Layer. This is the network device as thehost, or local computer, sees it and it is through this medium that thedata is passed to layer 1.

Layer 1—The Physical Layer. This is literally the Ethernet or SerialLine Interface Protocol (SLIP) itself.

At the receiving host (e.g. , the IWF 18 and/or the data proxy gateway20) the layers are stripped one at a time, and their information ispassed to the next highest level until it again reaches the applicationlevel. If a gateway such as the IWF 18 exists between the initiating andreceiving hosts, the gateway 18 takes the packet from the physical layer50, and passes it through a data link layer 56 to the IP layer, as isshown in FIG. 2. As a message is sent from the first host (i.e., digitaltelephone 16) to the second (i.e., gateway 20), gateways pass the packetalong by stripping off lower layers, readdressing the lower layer, andthen passing the packet toward its final destination.

When a message reaches its destination network, a data link layeraddress is needed to complete forwarding to the destination host. Datalink layer (i.e., layer 56) addresses are 48 bits long and are globallyunique, i.e. no two hosts, wherever located, have the same data linklayer address. There is a protocol called ARP (address resolutionprotocol), which obtains a data link layer address from thecorresponding network layer address (the address that IP uses).Typically, each router in a TCP/IP network maintains a database tablefrom which it can look up the data link layer address, but if adestination host is not in this ARP database, the router can transmit anARP request. This message basically means: “will the host with thefollowing network layer address please supply its data link layeraddress.” Only the addressed destination host responds, and the routeris then able to insert the correct data link layer address into themessage being forwarded, and to transmit the message to its finaldestination.

IP routing specifies that IP datagrams travel through internetworks onehop at a time (next hop routing) based on the destination address in theIP header. The entire route is not known at the outset of the journey.Instead, at each stop, the next destination (or next hop) is calculatedby matching the destination address within the datagram's IP header withan entry in the current node's (typically but not always a router)routing table.

Each node's involvement in the routing process consists only offorwarding packets based on internal information resident in the router,regardless of whether the packets get to their final destination. Toextend this explanation a step further, IP routing does not alter theoriginal datagram. In particular, the datagram source and destinationaddresses remain unaltered. The IP header always specifies the IPaddress of the original source and the IP address of the ultimatedestination.

When IP executes the routing algorithm it computes a new address, the IPaddress of the machine/router to which the datagram should be sent next.This algorithm uses the information from the routing table entries, aswell as any cached information local to the router. This new address ismost likely the address of another router/gateway. If the datagram canbe delivered directly (e.g. , the destination network is directlyattached to the current host) the new address will be the same as thedestination address in the IP header.

The next hop address defined by the method above is not stored in the IPdatagram. There is no reserved space to hold it and it is not “stored”at all. After executing the routing algorithm (the algorithm is specificto the vendor/platform) to define the next hop address to the finaldestination. The IP protocol software passes the datagram and the nexthop address to the network interface software responsible for thephysical network over which the datagram must now be sent.

The network interface software binds the next hop address to a physicaladdress (this physical address is discovered via address resolutionprotocols (ARP, RARP, etc. ), forms a frame (Ethernet, SMDS, FDDI,etc.—OSI layer 2 physical address) using the physical address, placesthe datagram in the data portion of the frame, and sends the result outover the physical network interface through which the next hop gatewayis reached. The next gateway receives the datagram and the foregoingprocess is repeated.

In addition, the IP does not provide for error reporting back to thesource when routing anomalies occur. This task is left to anotherInternet protocol, the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

A router will perform protocol translation. One example is at layers 1and 2. If the datagram arrives via an Ethernet interface and is destinedto exit on a serial line, for example, the router will strip off theEthernet header and trailer, and substitute the appropriate header andtrailer for the specific network media, such as SMDS, by way of example.

With reference to FIG. 2, the MSC 12 is configured for protocoltranslation between the wireless data protocol implemented in thephysical layer 50 a, to the physical layer protocol 50 b used by thepacket switched network 22. As shown in FIG. 2, This protocoltranslation is performed in the MSC 12, although the protocoltranslation may also be performed in the IWF 18, such that the MSC 12provides conventional switching based on the wireless data protocol 50a.

The digital telephone 16 initiates a data call in response to aninstruction from the application layer 60 a, indicating that data is tobe transmitted by the wireless medium 52. As described below, theapplication 60 a requests initiation of the data call in response toexecution of a client browser routine, where the browser routinegenerates the message to the application layer 60 a in response to userinputs based on a menu displayed by the client browser. The upperprotocols 58 in turn hand the message to the network and data link layerprotocols 56, which packetize the message in accordance with TCP/IPprotocol. The TCP/IP messages are then packetized into wireless datapackets by the physical layer 50 a according to the RLP and I-95Awireless data protocols.

The digital wireless transceiver 14 receives the streams of data packetsfrom the digital telephone 16 via the wireless medium 52, and forwardsthe data packets to the MSC 12 according to the wireless data protocolIS-95A. The MSC 12 strips the packets to recover the data frames at thedata link layer 56, and then repacketizes the data frames according tothe physical layer protocol 50 b, for example Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)protocol, for transmission on the medium 54. The MSC 12 treats thecommunication as a data call to the IWF unit 18, i.e., by switching thepackets through the port connect to the IWF 18.

The IWF 18 receives the data packets from the MSC 12, and strips thedata packets to recover the data link and network layer messagestransmitted by the digital telephone 16 according to the network anddata link protocol 56. Hence, the interworking unit 18 establishes atwo-way communication link 57 with the digital telephone according tothe network and data link layer protocols 56. As described below, theinterworking function 18 uses the two-way data link layer communicationlink 57 to assign a temporary IP address to the digital telephone 16,enabling the digital telephone 16 to perform IP-based addressingaccording to TCP/IP protocol.

The IWF 18, in response to receiving an IP datagram from the digitaltelephone 16 at the corresponding layer 56, determines the destinationof the datagram and forwards the datagram to the appropriate destinationby the packet switched network, for example the data proxy gateway 20.Hence, the IWF 18 establishes a second two-way communication link 59 atthe network and data link layer 56. The two-way network and data link 57between the digital telephone 16 and the IWF 18, plus the two-waynetwork and data link 59 between the IWF 18 and the data proxy gateway20 enables the digital telephone 16 and the data proxy gateway 22 toestablish a two-way application-layer session 62.

Hence, the digital telephone 16 and the gateway 20 can communicate viathe application-layer session 62 by exchanging hypertext based messages,for example HTML or HTTP-based messages, for establishing links todifferent locations using Internet uniform resource locator(URL)-encoding format. For example, the data proxy gateway 22 can send amenu including a predetermined URL to the digital telephone 16 forsecurity authentication and establishment of a secure link between thedigital telephone and servers on the packet switched network 22. Asdescribed below, the two-way application layer communication link 62also enables menu-based programming of the digital telephone 16. Inparticular, the digital telephone 16 supplies a stream of data packetscarrying a selection input generated by a thin browser in response to auser input, and the server addressed by the digital telephone inresponse downloads the requested software to the digital telephone. Thedigital telephone 16 recovers the executable downloaded program andstores the recovered program in nonvolatile memory, for subsequentexecution by the telephone.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the digital telephone 16 according toan embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the digitaltelephone 16 includes a display 70 for displaying a menu generated by aclient browser, a keypad 72 for dialing digits and generating selectioninputs keyed by the user based on the displayed menu, a voice encoder74, a CDMA or TDMA transceiver 76, and a GPS receiver 78. These devicesinteract under the control of an internal processor 80 configured forcontrolling digital telephone operations, including executing storedsoftware routines, described below, for activation of the digitaltelephone, call processing, and navigation of the packet switchednetwork 22. The digital telephone also includes a read-only memory (ROM)82 for storing basic CPU routines, a flash memory 84, and a non-volatilerandom access memory 86 for storing executable programs associated withthe digital telephone services and digital telephone navigation.

In particular, the random access memory 86 stores client browsersoftware 88, an operating system 90, vocoder software 92, device driversoftware 94, and call processing software 96. The operating systemsoftware 90, executable by the processor 80, supports the execution ofthe thin client browser software 88, including generation of messagesacross an application programming interface that specifies recognizedroutines between the thin client browser 88 and the operating system 90.The call processing software 96 is configured for network and transportoperations of the protocols of layer 56 and the generation of the datapackets according to TCP/IP protocol based on the messages supplied bythe operating system 90. The device driver software 94 is configured forthe controlling data transport by the transceiver 76 according to RLPand I-95A protocols.

The digital telephone 16 also includes an I/O interface, for example anRS-232 interface 98, for connecting a digital telephone to a personalcomputer for transport of facsimile and/data according to IS-686. Hence,the digital telephone 16 can operate as a digital wireless modem whenthe thin client browser 88 is not in use.

The thin client browser software is executable by the CPU 80 and has asize of about 100-200 kilobytes. The thin client browser 88 uses aninternet URL-encoding format, for example device://file/parameters, tocommunicate between the digital telephone 16 and an addressed server,such as the proxy gateway server 20 or the provisioning server 24. Inaddition, the browser can be used to connect to the customer serviceterminal 30 of the business network 32, enabling a user to retrievephone usage and billing information using a web interface in theterminal 30. The microbrowser 88 uses the URL format, whereas the I-95Adelivers OTA messages according to IS-683. Hence, an interpreterinterface is present between the microbrowser 88 and the physical layer50 a, where one of the layers includes an interpreter protocol in one ofthe layers 60 a, 58, or 56. For example, in IS-683, the handset sendsout a configuration response message in a variable length format torespond to a configuration request message. See, for example, section3.5.1.1 of IS-683. The configuration response message includes thefields shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Field Length (bits) OTSAP_MSG_TYPE (‘00000000’) 8 NUM_BLOCKS 8BLOCK_ID 8 BLOCK_LEN 8 PARAM_DATA 8 × BLOCK_LEN

The message shown in Table 1 can be encoded as:

“HTTP://provision serveraddress/OTASP_MSG_TYPE+NUM_BLOCKS+BLOCK_ID+BLOCK_LEN+PARAM_DATA

A similar approach can be implemented for all OTA messages.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are flow diagrams summarizing a method forprogramming a digital telephone according to a prescribed data protocolaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular,FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C summarize an arrangement for over the airactivation of the digital telephone 16, and downloading control softwareand/or updated software to the digital telephone 16 using a server incommunication with the digital telephone 16 according to a two-wayapplication-layer session 62. As described below, the thin clientbrowser software 88 can be used to enable a user of the digitaltelephone 16 to activate new service (i.e., become authorized for thenew service) without the intervention of a third party, such as anauthorized dealer. The use of the thin client browser also enables thedigital telephone 16 to connect to selected servers via the digitaltelephone network 10 and the packet data network 22 to download selectedcontrol software associated with digital telephone services.

According to the disclosed embodiment, two types of over the air serviceprovisioning procedure will generally be performed, namely activation ofnew service including voice service with the service provider, andupgrading existing service for which the user already has an establishedaccount.

Assuming that a user has purchased the digital telephone 16 and has notinitiated any service with the service provider, the user will initiatea hot-line call in step 110 to the customer service center 32 using apredetermined number. The predetermined number may be programmed withinthe digital telephone and/or the MSC 12 as the only authorized telephonenumber that may be accessed before activation of the digital telephone16. The hotline call in step 110 may be terminated as a voice call viathe public switched telephone network 48 to an operator at the customerservice center 32. Alternatively the hotline call may be terminated as adata call via the IWF 18 and the proxy server 20 to the terminal 30using the techniques described herein. During the hotline call to thecustomer service center 32, the user will be prompted either by a liveoperator or hypertext based messages from the terminal for user identityinformation and credit-related information (e.g. , a credit card number)and security information (e.g. , social security number).

Once the customer service center 32 determines that the user has met allnecessary criteria for establishment of an account, the customer servicecenter 32 (e.g. , a live operator or the terminal 30) sends aprovisioning request including an active mobile identification numberspecifying the physical ID of the digital telephone 16 to theprovisioning system 40. The customer service center 32 also sends anactivation code to the digital telephone 16 which is received by thedigital telephone via the wireless network 10 in step 112. If theactivation code is received via a data call, the activation code isstored in the digital telephone memory 16 and/or displayed to the user.

In response to reception of the activation code by the digital telephone116, the CPU 80 in the digital telephone 16 begins execution of theclient browser software 88 in step 114, and displays a predeterminedactivation to prompt the user for beginning the. activation routine. Theuser then will press a menu key in step 116 for service activationand/or upgrade in step 116, causing the browser routine to send arequest for activation of new service. The operating system 90 thenchecks if the hotline telephone number for the IWF and proxy server IPaddress is stored in the memory 84 in step 118. If the telephone numberis not stored, then the user is prompted for the telephone number and/orthe activation code in step 120. The operating system then causes thecall processing software 96 and the device drivers 94 to initiate awireless data call in step 122 to the IWF 18.

The MSC 12, in response to receiving the incoming wireless data callfrom the digital telephone 16 via the BSC 14, connects the digitaltelephone to the IWF 18, causing the IWF to establish a network and/ordata link 57 across the layers 56 with the digital telephone 16 in step124. The IWF 18 then assigns a temporary IP address to the digitaltelephone 16 to enable the digital telephone 16 to perform IP-basedaddressing, and supplies the IP address for the proxy server 20, ifneeded, in step 126.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the digital telephone 16 then establishes aninitial two-way application session 62 with the proxy server 20 in step128. The digital telephone 16 also sends a data activation request witha security key and an international mobile station identity (IMSI). TheIMSI is a method of identifying mobile stations in the land to mobileservice, as specified in CCITT recommendation E.212. The proxy gateway20 performs an authentication routine by accessing the user database 88in step 130 based on the transmitted IMSI and security key. If the IMSIexists in the user database 88, the proxy server 20 checks thetransmitted security key with a secret key stored in the database 88. Ifthe transmitted security key does not match the stored secret key instep 132, the proxy server 20 sends a message in step 134 denying therequest for activation. The proxy gateway 20 will also access thedatabase 88 to determine if the user is in the active mode, indicatingthat the subscriber is already activated. If the user is not in anactive mode, the proxy server 20 accepts the provisioning request instep 134 by transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) to the digitaltelephone 16 and initiates a secure link using the user authenticatedcode and a public key encryption algorithm, such as the Diffe-Hellmanalgorithm.

The digital telephone 16 then accesses the activation home page of theprovisioning server 24 in step 136 using the supplied URL via the securelink. The activation server 24 establishes a two-way application layersession 62 with the digital telephone 16 by sending a welcome message instep 138 that prompts for the user authentication code. The applicationlayer 60 a may then automatically supply the mobile identificationnumber (MIN) and/or user authentication code in encrypted format in step140 to the provisioning server 24, or the user may manually input theauthentication code.

The provisioning server 24, also referred to as the activation server,will then download a service programming lock to the digital telephone.A programming lock is used by the digital telephone for identificationof authorized control software sources. Hence, the programming lock issent to the digital phone 16 to prevent any unauthorized programming tothe phone by nonauthorized systems. The activation server 24 will alsosend a choice menu to the digital telephone for service choices.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the server 24, upon receiving a user selection fromthe browser of the digital telephone 16, determines in step 144 if therequest is an activation request. Assuming the browser request indicatesa request for activation, the provisioning server 24 sends activationparameters to the digital telephone in step 146, and sends any relevantactivation information to the user's home location register in system 44via the packet switched network 22 and the IS network 36 in step 148.

Once the activation parameters have been received by the digitaltelephone 16, the server 24 begins the downloading routine fordownloading of control software associated with digital telephoneservices to the digital telephone. As shown in FIG. 4C, the downloadroutine may also be initiated in step 150 if the server 24 determinesthat the request transmitted from the digital telephone is a specificdownload request.

The server 24 begins in step 152 by sending a message to the digitaltelephone requesting verification that the user wishes to download thesoftware. If in step 154 the server 24 does not verify that the userwishes to continue with the download, the download procedure is abortedin step 156. If at step 154 the server 24 determines that the userverifies to continue with the download procedure, the server 24 sends aservice programming lock in step 158 to unlock the digital telephone 16,at which point the server downloads the control software to the digitaltelephone 16. As described above, the server downloads by sending datapackets via the packet switched network 22 according to TCP/IP protocoland the protocol of the physical layer 50 b. The IWF 18 or the MSC 12receive the data packets, strip the payload from the physical layerdependent data packets, and repackets the data in data packets accordingto the wireless data protocol RLP and I-95A for the physical layerprotocol 50 a.

The digital telephone 16, upon receiving the stream of data packets fromthe digital wireless telephone network 10, strips the payload data fromthe wireless data packets, and sends the payload to the upper layers 56,58 and 60 a. In particular, the processor 80 recovers the executableprogram from the stream of data packets received by the transceiver 76,and writes the executable program to the nonvolatile memory 86 using thefile transfer protocol (FTP) resident in the upper protocol layers 58and the application layer 60 a. As recognized in the art, the server 24and the digital telephone 16 may use well recognized file transferprotocols.

During the downloading process, the digital telephone 16 and the server24 interact via the application layer session 62 to ensure that thedownloading is successful in step 160. If in step 160 either the digitaltelephone 16 or the server 24 determine that the download procedure isunsuccessful, the download procedure is aborted in step 161, at whichpoint the server 24 logs the failed attempt and sends a message to thedigital telephone 16 that the downloading procedure was aborted. If instep 160 the server determines that the download procedure wassuccessful, the successful downloading is logged by the server 24 instep 162, and a message is sent to the phone that the download wassuccessful.

Hence, the digital telephone is able to use a web-based approach fornavigating the packet switched network for selectively accessingdifferent servers on network 22 to obtain control software or otherinformation related to digital telephone services. For example, thedigital telephone may obtain billing and usage information by accessinga web page at the terminal 30 for the customer service center 32. Thedigital telephone 16 may also access a revision control server 26configured for maintaining the digital telephone 16 with up to datefirmware and/or software, including vocoder software 92, browsersoftware 88, device drivers 94, and operating system 90.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the update routine begins in step 164, where theactivation server 24 determines whether the digital telephone 16 sendsan update request from the menu of available services supplied in step142. If the message does not correspond to an update request in step164, the two-way application layer session 62 is quit by the server instep 166. Otherwise, the activation server 24 sends the URL for theupdate server 26 to the digital telephone in step 168. The digitaltelephone then sends an update request in step 170 to the update server26, and includes the telephone revision parameters. The update server 26initiates a secure link in step 172 and sends a menu of availableupdates and the respective URLs. The browser 88 then displays theavailable update to the user on the display 70, enabling the user toselect an update in step 174 from the displayed menu. The server 26 andthe digital telephone 16 then interact in the same manner as describedabove for downloading control software to download the updated software.Hence, the user of the digital telephone 16 can update either thebrowser application software 88, the operating system software 90, thevocoder software 92, the device driver software 94 or the callprocessing software 96 by sending the corresponding request in step 174.

According to the disclosed embodiment, a digital telephone having a thinbrowser requiring only 120-200 kilobytes of executable memory space isable to establish a data connection with a proxy gateway 20, where aconverter in the MSC 12 and/or the IWF 18 converts the physical layertransport mechanism from a wireless data protocol 50 a to a wiredphysical layer protocol 50 b. Moreover, the digital telephone 16 canestablish two-way application layer sessions with servers on the packetswitched network 22 for downloading of control software related todigital telephone services. The enhanced flexibility of CDMA transportenables a user of the digital telephone 16 to switch back and forthbetween voice and data mode, enabling the user to place a voice callwhile software is being downloaded into the digital telephone 16. Hence,the user may converse with either wireless telephone networkrepresentatives, or use the telephone for normal use during thedownloading procedure.

Moreover, use of the browser in the digital telephone 16 enables phoneusers to access all of the features in an intelligent network, asdescribed in IS-41, through the wireless data channel using world wideweb of protocol suites, resulting in open extensible, and reliableaccess. The user-initiated download procedure also reduces burden onwireless resources, since the user-initiated download is more randomlydistributed than system-based download procedures.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for programming a digital telephoneconfigured for sending and receiving data packets according to aprescribed wireless data protocol, the system comprising: a digitalwireless transceiver configured for transmitting first data packets tothe digital telephone according to the prescribed wireless data protocolin response to reception of a first data stream, and outputting a seconddata stream carrying second data packets transmitted from the digitaltelephone; an interworking unit for establishing a two-way communicationlink with the digital telephone according to a prescribed network layerprotocol, the interworking unit outputting the first data packets to thedigital wireless transceiver in response to received first network layermessages, and generating second network layer messages based on thesecond data packets and the prescribed network layer protocol; a serverfor establishing a two-way application-layer session with the digitaltelephone by outputting the first network layer messages and based onthe second network layer messages received from the interworking unit,the server downloading control software associated with digitaltelephone services to the digital telephone during the two-wayapplication layer session; and a proxy gateway in communication with theinterworking unit, the proxy gateway selectively controlling access bythe digital telephone to the server based on validation of securityinformation supplied by the digital telephone, wherein the interworkingunit establishes a virtual connection connecting the digital telephoneto the proxy gateway in response to reception of a prescribed addressreceived from the digital telephone via the two-way communication link.2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a packet switched networkfor carrying data frames establishing the virtual connection between theinterworking unit and the proxy gateway, and data frames between theinterworking unit and the server.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein theinterworking unit receives the second data packets in IS-95A as saidprescribed wireless data protocol, and sends the data frames to theserver via the packet switched network according to TCP/IP protocol assaid network layer protocol.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein theserver sends an instruction to the digital telephone, in response toestablishment of the two-way application layer session, to display onthe digital telephone a prescribed menu of user inputs.
 5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the server downloads the control software in responseto receiving a corresponding one of the user inputs from the digitaltelephone.
 6. A system for programming a digital telephone configuredfor sending and receiving data packets according to a prescribedwireless data protocol, the system comprising: a digital wirelesstransceiver configured for transmitting first data packets to thedigital telephone according to the prescribed wireless data protocol inresponse to reception of a first data stream, and outputting a seconddata stream carrying second data packets transmitted from the digitaltelephone; an interworking unit for establishing a two-way communicationlink with the digital telephone according to a prescribed network layerprotocol, the interworking unit outputting the first data packets to thedigital wireless transceiver in response to received first network layermessages, and generating second network layer messages based on thesecond data packets and the prescribed network layer protocol; a serverfor establishing a two-way application-layer session with the digitaltelephone by outputting the first network layer messages and based onthe second network layer messages received from the interworking unit,the server downloading control software associated with digitaltelephone services to the digital telephone during the two-wayapplication layer session; a proxy gateway in communication with theinterworking unit, the proxy gateway selectively controlling access bythe digital telephone to the server based on validation of securityinformation supplied by the digital telephone; and a user databasestoring for each user an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI), asecret key, and a user status, wherein the proxy gateway receives assaid security information a transmitted IMSI and a security key from thedigital telephone, the proxy gateway accessing the user database basedon the transmitted IMSI and security key and in response selectivelygranting the digital telephone access to the server.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the proxy gateway supplies a predetermined UniformResource Locator (URL) according to a hypertext protocol to the digitaltelephone for establishment of a secure link by the digital telephonewith the server.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the server, inresponse to receiving an encrypted user authentication code from thedigital telephone, sends a programming lock to the digital telephone foridentification by the digital telephone of authorized control softwaresources.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the prescribed wireless dataprotocol is IS-95A.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the prescribednetwork layer protocol is TCP/IP protocol.
 11. The system of claim 10,further comprising a packet switched network for carrying the first andsecond network layer messages according to TCP/IP protocol.
 12. A methodof programming digital telephone services in a digital telephone incommunication with a digital wireless communications system, comprising:initiating a two-way network link from the digital telephone to aninterworking unit by sending and receiving data packets via a digitalwireless base station transceiver according to a prescribed wirelessdata protocol; establishing a two-way session between the digitaltelephone and a server via the two-way network link by sending from thedigital telephone a network address corresponding to the server, theserver in communication with the interworking unit via a packet switcheddata network, wherein the establishing step includes: (a) supplying amenu list from the server to the digital telephone; (b) executing abrowser application stored in the digital telephone and configured fordisplaying the menu list on the digital telephone; and (c) outputting bythe browser application a selection input to the server in response to auser selection from the menu list; downloading control softwareassociated with the digital telephone services to the digital telephonevia the digital wireless base station transceiver in response to theselection input supplied by the digital telephone during the two-waysession; outputting by the browser application a second selection inputto the server in response to a corresponding second user selection fromthe menu list; establishing via the two-way network link a secondtwo-way session between the digital telephone and a second server incommunication with the packet switched data network; and downloadingupdate software from the second server in response to versioninformation supplied from the digital telephone to the second server.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the update includes at least one ofvocoder software, browser application software, device drivers, andoperating system software.
 14. A method of programming digital telephoneservices in a digital telephone in communication with a digital wirelesscommunications system, comprising: initiating a two-way network linkfrom the digital telephone to an interworking unit by sending andreceiving data packets via a digital wireless base station transceiveraccording to a prescribed wireless data protocol; establishing a two-waysession between the digital telephone and a server via the two-waynetwork link by sending from the digital telephone a network addresscorresponding to the server, the server in communication with theinterworking unit via a packet switched data network, wherein theestablishing step includes: (a) assigning an IP address by theinterworking unit to the digital telephone, and forwarding the assignedIP address and a first destination IP address to the digital telephonefrom the interworking unit; (b) establishing an initial two-way sessionbetween the digital telephone and a proxy server corresponding to thefirst destination IP address via the interworking unit; (c)authenticating a security status of the digital telephone by the proxyserver during the initial two-way session and in response supplying thenetwork address corresponding to the server from the proxy server to thedigital telephone; and (d) establishing the two-way session between thedigital telephone and the server in response to the authenticating step;and downloading control software associated with the digital telephoneservices to the digital telephone via the digital wireless base stationtransceiver in response to a selection input supplied by the digitaltelephone during the two-way session.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the downloading step includes: supplying data packets carryingthe control software to the interworking unit according to TCP/IPprotocol, and transmitting the data packets carrying the controlsoftware from the digital wireless base station transceiver according toIS-95A protocol.
 16. A telecommunications system comprising: a digitalwireless telephone having a memory for storing a browser for selecting arequest from a menu of available requests, and a transceiver for sendinga first stream of data packets carrying a selected request and receivinga second stream of data packets; a wireless telephone networkcomprising: (a) a digital wireless transceiver for receiving the firststream of data packets and sending the second stream of data packetsaccording to a prescribed wireless data protocol, and (b) a mobileswitching center for establishing a switched connection between thedigital wireless telephone and a destination station based on a dialedinput from the digital wireless telephone; an interworking unit forestablishing a two-way data link with the digital telephone using theswitched connection; and a server for downloading control softwareassociated with digital telephone services of the wireless telephonenetwork via the interworking unit and the mobile switching center to thedigital telephone, wherein: the interworking unit establishes thetwo-way data link according to a prescribed network layer protocol, andthe interworking unit outputs the first stream of data packets to thedigital wireless transceiver in response to received first network layermessages, and generates second network layer messages based on thesecond stream of data packets and the prescribed network layer protocol.17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server establishes a two-wayapplication layer session with the digital wireless telephone byoutputting the first network layer messages and based on the secondnetwork layer messages received from the interworking unit, the serverdownloading the control software during the two-way application layersession.
 18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a proxy gatewayin communication with the interworking unit and selectively controllingaccess by the digital wireless telephone to the server based onvalidation of security information supplied by the digital wirelesstelephone.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interworking unitestablishes a virtual connection for the digital wireless telephone tothe proxy gateway in response to reception of a prescribed address fromthe digital wireless telephone.
 20. The system of claim 19, furthercomprising a packet switched network for carrying data framesestablishing the virtual connection between the interworking unit andthe proxy gateway, and data frames between the interworking unit and theserver.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the interworking unitreceives the second data packets in IS-95A protocol, and sends the dataframes to the server via the packet switched network according to TCP/IPprotocol.
 22. The system of claim 16, wherein the server sends aninstruction to the digital telephone to display on the digital telephonea prescribed menu of user inputs.
 23. The system of claim 22, whereinthe server downloads the control software in response to receiving acorresponding one of the user inputs from the digital telephone.
 24. Thesystem of claim 16, further comprising: a user database storing for eachuser an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI), a secret key, anda user status; and a proxy gateway for receiving a transmitted IMSI anda security key from the digital telephone, the proxy gateway accessingthe user database based on the transmitted IMSI and security key and inresponse selectively granting the digital telephone access to the serverfor the downloading of the control software.
 25. The system of claim 24,wherein the proxy gateway supplies a predetermined Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) according to a hypertext protocol to the digital telephonefor establishment of a secure link by the digital telephone with theserver.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the server, in response toreceiving an encrypted user authentication code from the digitaltelephone, sends a programming lock to the digital telephone foridentification by the digital telephone of authorized control softwaresources.
 27. The system of claim 16, wherein the server downloadsupgrade software to the digital telephone in response to receivingrevision information from the digital telephone.
 28. The system of claim16, wherein the interworking unit includes an interface for convertingthe first stream of data packets from IS-95 protocol to a physical layerprotocol capable of transporting TCP/IP messages to the server, and foroutputting the second stream of data packets carrying the controlsoftware in the IS-95 protocol.
 29. A telecommunications systemcomprising: a digital wireless telephone having a memory for storing abrowser for selecting a request from a menu of available requests, and atransceiver for sending a first stream of data packets carrying aselected request and receiving a second stream of data packets; awireless telephone network comprising: (a) a digital wirelesstransceiver for receiving the first stream of data packets and sendingthe second stream of data packets according to a prescribed wirelessdata protocol, and (b) a mobile switching center for establishing aswitched connection between the digital wireless telephone and adestination station based on a dialed input from the digital wirelesstelephone; an interworking unit for establishing a two-way data linkwith the digital telephone using the switched connection; a server fordownloading control software associated with digital telephone servicesof the wireless telephone network via the interworking unit and themobile switching center to the digital telephone; and a proxy gateway incommunication with the interworking unit and selectively controllingaccess by the digital wireless telephone to the server based onvalidation of security information supplied by the digital wirelesstelephone.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the interworking unitestablishes a virtual connection for the digital wireless telephone tothe proxy gateway in response to reception of a prescribed address fromthe digital wireless telephone.
 31. The system of claim 30, furthercomprising a packet switched network for carrying data framesestablishing the virtual connection between the interworking unit andthe proxy gateway, and data frames between the interworking unit and theserver.
 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the interworking unitreceives the second data packets in I-95A protocol, and sends the dataframes to the server via the packet switched network according to TCP/IPprotocol.
 33. A telecommunications system comprising: a digital wirelesstelephone having a memory for storing a browser for selecting a requestfrom a menu of available requests, and a transceiver for sending a firststream of data packets carrying a selected request and receiving asecond stream of data packets; a wireless telephone network comprising:(a) a digital wireless transceiver for receiving the first stream ofdata packets and sending the second stream of data packets according toa prescribed wireless data protocol, and (b) a mobile switching centerfor establishing a switched connection between the digital wirelesstelephone and a destination station based on a dialed input from thedigital wireless telephone; an interworking unit for establishing atwo-way data link with the digital telephone using the switchedconnection; a server for downloading control software associated withdigital telephone services of the wireless telephone network via theinterworking unit and the mobile switching center to the digitaltelephone; a user database storing for each user an International MobileStation Identity (IMSI), a secret key, and a user status; and a proxygateway for receiving a transmitted IMSI and a security key from thedigital telephone, the proxy gateway accessing the user database basedon the transmitted IMSI and security key and in response selectivelygranting the digital telephone access to the server for the downloadingof the control software.
 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the proxygateway supplies a predetermined Uniform Resource Locator (URL)according to a hypertext protocol to the digital telephone forestablishment of a secure link by the digital telephone with the server.35. The system of claim 34, wherein the server, in response to receivingan encrypted user authentication code from the digital telephone, sendsa programming lock to the digital telephone for identification by thedigital telephone of authorized control software sources.